News

UPU Releases Results of Carbon Emissions Inventory

3 December 2009: The Universal Postal Union (UPU), the UN specialized agency for postal services, has released the results of its first worldwide survey, which estimates that Posts in its 191 member countries generated at least 26 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2008 through the operation of postal vehicles and buildings, or 0.07% of total worldwide emissions.

However, the UPU notes that many Posts already have environmentally friendly practices in place. UPU Director General Edouard Dayan indicated that the Union will work with all its partners, including the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), to encourage polluters to reduce their environmental impact, adding that "sound management of environmental issues can drive growth." The UPU is looking into setting up a financing mechanism to compensate Posts' carbon emissions.[UPU's Climate Change Portal][UPU Press Release]